2015
The Killer Nashville
Claymore Award
Finalist
Fia McKee Series
2010
Macavity
Award Nominee
Best First Novel
Nikki Latrelle Series:
FULL MORTALITY
2014
Dr. Tony Ryan Award
Best in Racing Literature
Award Finalist
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Sasscer Hill, who's been involved in horse racing as an amateur jockey and racehorse breeder for much of her life, sets her novels against a background of big money, gambling, and horse racing. Her novel, FLAMINGO ROAD, won the $10,000 Dr. Tony Ryan Best in Racing Literature award for 2018. Her other novels have garnered a Carrie McCray award and nominations for Agatha, Macavity, and Claymore awards.
"I've never wanted to write the “Great American novel.” I believe my job is to entertain with stories about chasing a dream, fighting the odds, and helping the helpless. I want to create a world that’s a bit scary, sometimes funny, always informative, and a reliable destination for escape."
“Could Sasscer Hill be the Dick Francis of her generation? Count me among those who would vote yes.” Margaret Maron, New York Times Best Selling Author and Winner of Edgar Best Novel, Edgar Grand Master, Agatha, Anthony & Macavity Awards
2010
Agatha Christie
Award Nominee
Best First Novel
Nikki Latrelle Series:
FULL MORTALITY
2015
Carrie McCray
Memorial Literary
Award Winner
1st Chapter of a Novel
Fia McKee Series
THE DARK SIDE OF TOWN
"To be honest, I was a bit reticent to pick up your book, because other than Dick Francis (who was cliched) I am always disappointed with authors that just don't get the racing details correct in novels.
Not so with your book, The Dark Side of Town. I thought that the racing detail was excellent and the details of Saratoga very nicely done. As it happens, our house in Saratoga is on Fifth Avenue right around the corner from Brook Tavern and I very much enjoyed the detail of the scenes that were set there. Fia was a strong and very attractive character and her relationship with Calixto caused me to blush on a few occasions. There were two violent scenes that were pretty tough but realisitic. I also found Fia's relationship with her mother very conflicted and not surprisingly not resolved in the end.
I recently ordered Flaming Road and Racing From Evil from Amazon and look forward to reading them.” ––Charlie Hayward, former head of the New York Racing Association, Editor, the Daily Racing Form, Publisher of Simon & Schuster’s General Book Division and President and CEO of Little, Brown and Company
Trade Reviews for THE DARK SIDE OF TOWN are Red Hot!
“Filled with sense-laden descriptions and ever tightening suspense, this is gripping mystery fare and a terrific successor to the racecourse mystery world first carved out by Dick Francis.” —Booklist, (starred review)
“Fans of horse racing and everyone else will find this tale of love, lust, greed, and family ties an enjoyable ride.”–Publishers Weekly
“Sound racing lore mixes with sex and murder to provide a blood-soaked edge-of-your-seat thriller”–Kirkus.
“The second book in the Fia McKee series delivers another high-octane trip into the professional world of horse racing. The sights, sounds and activity of the racetrack all come to life [with] a heroine who can hold her own in room full of bad guys.”—Romantic Times
“. . . the nifty plot includes a murder at the track and other surprising narrative twists. Satisfying as all of this turns out to be, even better is the sense of fidelity that Sasscer Hill brings to the business of racing horses. Before Hill turned to writing crime novels, she bred, trained and rode horses, and she’s impressive in sharing with readers the magic she finds in the whole thoroughbred scene.”–The Toronto Star, An Editor’s Pick.